Rebels make most of season

Crestview’s Devony Mahon swings away in front of Lakeview catcher Mackenzie Stowe during Friday’s Division III sectional final. (Morning Journal/Matt Morrison)

CORTLAND — No. 15 seed Crestview ran into problems quick as it fell 10-0 in five innings to fourth-seeded Lakeview on Friday in the Division III sectional final.

Crestview was had an injury-proned season that left it without most of its veteran players.

“We lost several key players right out of the gate,” Crestview coach Melvin Miller said. “We came in here with a very young team and very inexperienced. I think we hung around to start the game and I am really proud of the way we were able to do that.”

Lakeview improves to 17-5, while Crestview finishes the season at 9-14.

One of the key players that the Crestview was without before the season even started was starting pitcher Brooke Brubaker.

“That was a big obstacle coming into the season,” Melvin Miller said. “Not only what she could bring to us pitching wise, but she led us in almost every batting statistic last year. Not to have her was like missing a big piece of the puzzle.”

Without Brubaker in the circle, the Rebels had to rely on junior Emma Snyder and freshmen Kerrigan Miller.

“They (Snyder and Miller) have done a good job,” Melvin Miller said. “I thought tonight we got out to a good start.”

Miller was the losing pitcher for the Rebels allowing one earned run on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts through four innings before being relieved by Snyder in the fifth inning. Snyder finished the game, allowing three earned runs on two hits.

Miller and Sadie Halloran each had one hit for the Rebels.

The Rebels made five errors.

“It is hard to give extra outs to any team let alone a good team,” Melvin Miller said. “You start giving extra outs to a good team that is a lot to overcome.”

Mackenna Werner led the Bulldogs with three runs scored and three hits, including two singles and a double.

“Mackenna is very solid,” Lakeview coach David Kelm said. “She is our senior and has been playing second base for us for three years and has been in the lineup for a long time. She is going to have an impact for the rest of the year and we are sure going to miss her at the end of this.”

Kennedy Bartlett had two hits two RBIs and one run for the Bulldogs, while Kalyssa Werner and Hallie Capan each had two hits, one RBI and one run. Linnea Kovac had one RBI and two runs.

Isabella Isenberg was the winning pitcher allowing two hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Lakeview will now play No. 5 seed LaBrae in the district semifinal on Tuesday.

Lakeview is familiar with LaBrae, winning 19-9 earlier in the season.

“We played a tough game with them,” Kelm said. “We had a really good sixth inning, so it makes it look like we did a little bit more than we actually did. It is going to be a great game and you have to love those ones because you know it is going to be competitive and I think that brings out the best in everybody.”

“I have played both now,” Miller said. “I think Lakeview and LaBrae will matchup pretty even. I think it will be a tight game.”

C: 0-0-0-0-0– 0- 2-5

L: 0-1-2-3-4–10-10-0